Kingston’s “Toys for Tickets” program is making its annual return, offering residents the chance to clear parking violations with toy donations.
For three days, from Monday, Dec. 4 to Wednesday, Dec. 6, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., residents can donate toys as an alternative to monetary payments for parking citations issued between Nov. 1 and Dec. 3, 2023. Notably, this offer does not extend to tickets issued for parking unlawfully in spots designated for the differently-abled. To spread awareness, brochures detailing the program will accompany every parking ticket distributed throughout the month.
Dan Hazell, the Supervisor of Enforcement Services, said, “We’re excited to bring Toys for Tickets back this year ahead of the holiday season. If you receive a parking ticket this month, take advantage of this opportunity to donate a toy as your payment. You’ll pay your ticket while making the holiday season special for a child in our community.”
Those wishing to participate can drop off toys at the City Hall Payment Centre on 216 Ontario Street, which accepts both toys and cash for ticket settlements. Alternatively, the center at 1211 John Counter Boulevard exclusively accepts toy donations, with no provisions for credit or debit transactions. Donations should consist of new, unopened toys, with a preference for games, cars, dolls, and stuffed toys catering to children from infancy to 12 years. Items that either require batteries or seem to endorse violence are not acceptable. The value of the donated toy should match or surpass the ticket’s value, and donors are expected to provide a receipt upon submission.
Participation is voluntary and fines can be settled monetarily online at CityofKingston.ca/Pay.
Since its inception in 2005,”Toys for Tickets” has collected more than 3,700 toys.
